Most people look at a black driveway or a freshly-paved carpark and just see… well, asphalt. It looks clean, and it’s smooth to drive on. It does the job. But if you’re planning a project for your own property, you’ll very quickly find that asphalt is more of an umbrella term than you might have first realised.
There are types of asphalt pavement, with different recipes that apply depending on their context. For example, the recipe for a quiet backyard path would be significantly different from that for a heavy-duty commercial entrance.
We want to take the mystery out of this for you, so we’ve toned down the technical jargon in this breakdown of the different types of asphalt pavement. This way, you can choose the right kind in a straightforward way. Here’s a look at the most common types you’ll encounter, plus where they actually belong.
Hot mix asphalt.
If you’ve seen a paving crew with steam rising from their truck, you’re looking at hot mix asphalt. This is one of the most common types of asphalt pavement that we use for driveways and roads. As the name suggests, the mix is heated to between 150°C and 180°C before it’s laid and compacted.
Because we apply it at such high temperatures, it cools into a very dense, incredibly tough surface. For a standard Kiwi driveway, hot mix is usually the best choice because it provides that classic, smooth finish that can handle the weight of SUVs and vans without breaking a sweat.
Warm mix asphalt.
Warm mix asphalt is a bit newer to the industry, but it still deserves its place among the different types of asphalt pavement. It’s quickly becoming a favourite for homeowners and contractors alike, simply because it’s easier to apply than hot mix. This type of asphalt includes special additives that enable it to be mixed and laid at lower temperatures.
The result is just as durable, but the laying process is better for the environment because it requires less energy to produce. It also doesn’t need to stay quite as hot, so we can often lay it easier in winter when a hot mix might otherwise encounter an issue.
Porous asphalt.
One thing we know about New Zealand is that it rains… a lot. If your property has puddling or poor drainage issues, porous asphalt can be a lifesaver. You might also know it as “permeable pavement”, and it’s essentially asphalt designed to let water drain through.
Unlike standard asphalt, which is designed to shed water off the sides, porous asphalt is “breathable.” It has tiny gaps that allow water to soak straight through the surface and into a specially prepared stone bed underneath. This is a brilliant way to manage stormwater without needing expensive extra drains or dealing with a mini-lake in the middle of your car park.
Stone Mastic Asphalt.
You probably won’t need this for a residential garden path, but for commercial property owners, SMA is the heavy-duty option. It contains a higher percentage of stone and a special fibre-reinforced binder.
You can basically think of it as the “industrial strength” version of asphalt. It’s designed to resist “rutting” (you know the look, those annoying grooves that form when heavy trucks drive over the same spot over and over again). If you’re paving a yard for a transport company or a busy retail entrance, SMA is a great investment because it prevents you from having to repave in five years.
Cold mix asphalt.
Cold mix is the only type of asphalt that doesn’t require heat to be applied. You’ve likely seen it sold in bags at hardware stores. While it’s very convenient for a quick DIY patch in a pothole, it isn’t a permanent solution for a full driveway.
It remains somewhat flexible and lacks the structural strength of the heated varieties. We generally only recommend this for temporary repairs until a proper professional fix can be scheduled.
Of the many types of asphalt pavement out there, if you’re tackling a residential project, then you’re most likely to need either hot mix or warm mix. They’re a great balance between cost and durability.
That said, if you’ve got a steep slope or an area where there’s a lot of runoff, or you’re managing a commercial site with heavy traffic, then it’s worth looking into the more specialised options with a contractor on your side.
The best asphalt is the one that aligns with what your property needs. Guesswork can get you closer to the right choice, but working with a pro means that you can get the recipe and implementation down pat from the beginning, saving you many a maintenance headache down the road.
Laying new asphalt pavement? Talk to Asphalt & Civil.
With many years of asphalt and concrete work under our belts, we’re here to help you distinguish between the different types of asphalt pavement out there. We’ll also help you choose the best one for your property.
So, get in touch with the friendly and helpful experts at Asphalt & Civil, Auckland’s most trusted asphalt and concrete pavers.